Three days after the Beast Tide, the rain finally stopped.
The Kingdom of Asteria had begun counting its dead.
Villages had disappeared.
Roads had been destroyed.
Fields that once provided food were covered in ash and broken earth.
Elaris was among the settlements that had been completely destroyed.
There was nothing left of Kelvin's home.
Nothing except memories.
Kelvin sat silently inside a wooden carriage.
His clothes were still the same ones he had worn on the night of the Beast Tide. They were dirty and torn, but he refused to change them.
His small hands were wrapped around a piece of cloth.
It was the last thing he had taken from his mother.
Across from him sat a woman wearing the blue uniform of the Kingdom's orphanage service.
Her name was Maria.
She had spent the last three days helping survivors.
She had spoken to Kelvin several times.
He had barely answered.
Now she watched him quietly.
"We'll arrive soon," she said.
Kelvin didn't respond.
Maria sighed.
"Your new home isn't too far from the capital."
Kelvin continued staring through the window.
Home.
The word felt strange.
He had a home.
Then he lost it.
He had a father.
Then he lost him.
He had a mother.
Then he lost her too.
Now strangers were telling him he had a new home.
Kelvin didn't believe them.
The carriage continued down the damaged road.
Eventually, massive stone walls appeared in the distance.
Behind the walls stood the city of Valoria.
Unlike Elaris, Valoria had survived the Beast Tide.
Its walls were enormous.
Watchtowers stood at regular intervals, each occupied by armed Awakened soldiers.
Large magical crystals were embedded into the walls.
Kelvin stared at them.
Maria noticed.
"Those are defensive crystals."
Kelvin remained silent.
"They activate when the city comes under attack."
"Can they stop a Beast Tide?"
Maria hesitated.
"Sometimes."
Kelvin looked away.
Sometimes.
That answer was enough.
The carriage passed through the city gates.
Valoria was enormous.
Kelvin had never seen so many people.
Awakened warriors walked through the streets wearing armor.
Some carried swords.
Others carried magical staffs.
A man surrounded by flames walked past the carriage.
Kelvin stared.
"Fire affinity," Maria explained.
A woman nearby lifted several boxes without touching them.
"Air affinity."
Kelvin watched with curiosity.
Before the Beast Tide, these powers had fascinated him.
Now they only reminded him of the promise he had made.
He would become strong.
Very strong.
The carriage eventually stopped in front of a large building.
A sign was mounted above the entrance.
VALORIA ORPHANAGE
Maria opened the carriage door.
"We're here."
Kelvin stepped down.
The orphanage was larger than he expected.
It was surrounded by a small garden and protected by a stone wall.
Several children were playing outside.
Some looked toward Kelvin.
Others ignored him.
Maria placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"You'll meet the director now."
Kelvin nodded.
Inside, the building was warm.
There were wooden tables, chairs, shelves filled with books, and several paintings on the walls.
A woman stood at the end of the hallway.
She appeared to be in her forties.
Her hair was tied behind her head.
She wore a simple white dress.
"Is this the boy from Elaris?"
Maria nodded.
"Yes."
The woman approached.
"My name is Evelyn. I'm the director of this orphanage."
Kelvin said nothing.
Evelyn crouched in front of him.
"I heard what happened."
Kelvin looked down.
"I'm sorry."
His eyes began to sting.
He didn't want to cry.
He had already cried enough.
Evelyn didn't force him to speak.
Instead, she said:
"You don't have to call this place home."
Kelvin looked at her.
"You don't?"
"No."
She smiled gently.
"You can call it whatever you want."
Kelvin didn't understand.
"Why?"
"Because losing your parents doesn't mean you have to pretend you aren't hurting."
Kelvin remained silent.
Evelyn stood.
"Come."
She led him through the hallway.
As they walked, Kelvin saw children of different ages.
Some were reading.
Some were playing.
Others were training.
One boy was sitting alone near a window.
Another group was arguing over a wooden sword.
Kelvin suddenly noticed a girl around his age carrying a book.
She looked at him.
Their eyes met.
She smiled.
Kelvin looked away.
Evelyn showed him a small room.
"This will be your room."
There was a bed.
A small table.
A wooden cabinet.
And a window.
Kelvin placed his small belongings on the bed.
Evelyn stood at the doorway.
"If you need anything, ask one of the caretakers."
Kelvin nodded.
She began to leave.
"Director."
She stopped.
Kelvin hesitated.
"Will I ever see my parents again?"
Evelyn slowly turned around.
She understood what he was really asking.
She walked back into the room and sat beside him.
"Not in the way you want."
Kelvin's eyes became wet.
"But..."
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You will always carry them with you."
Kelvin lowered his head.
That night, he cried quietly.
No one heard him.
Or at least, he thought no one did.
Outside his room, Evelyn stood in the hallway.
She heard everything.
She did not enter.
Sometimes children needed someone beside them.
Sometimes they needed space.
---
FIVE YEARS LATER
Kelvin was fifteen.
The boy who had arrived at the orphanage had changed.
He was taller now.
Stronger.
More disciplined.
He had spent years training his body.
Every morning before breakfast, he exercised.
Running.
Push-ups.
Sword practice.
Mana theory.
Basic survival training.
He had one goal.
Become an Awakened.
Today was the day.
The entire orphanage was awake before sunrise.
Excitement filled the building.
The Awakening Ceremony would begin at noon.
Every child turning fifteen that year would have the opportunity to awaken.
Kelvin stood in front of the mirror.
He looked at himself.
Dark hair.
Calm eyes.
A lean but well-trained body.
He clenched his fist.
"Today."
His heart beat faster.
Five years.
Five years since the Beast Tide.
Five years since he made his promise.
Today, he would discover his power.
A knock came from the door.
"Kelvin!"
He opened it.
A familiar girl stood outside.
She had grown considerably since he first saw her.
Her name was Sofia.
"You're finally awake."
Kelvin smiled.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Me neither."
Behind her appeared three more familiar faces.
John.
Michael.
Lydia.
The five had become close over the years.
John was energetic and loud.
Michael was quiet and observant.
Lydia was gentle and kind.
Sofia was confident and intelligent.
Together, they had formed an unusual friendship.
John slapped Kelvin on the shoulder.
"Today is the day!"
Kelvin laughed.
"You're going to break my shoulder."
John grinned.
"When I awaken Fire Magic, you'll be jealous."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"You've said that every day for the last year."
"Because it's going to happen."
Lydia laughed.
"What if you awaken Healing?"
John's face fell.
"I don't want to heal people."
Sofia smiled.
"What do you want?"
John raised his fist.
"Something powerful."
Kelvin looked toward the window.
The morning sun was rising.
Today would determine their futures.
They didn't know it yet.
They didn't know that four of them would awaken powers that Aurora already understood.
They didn't know that the fifth would awaken something the world had spent centuries trying to erase.
And they certainly didn't know that their five-person friendship would eventually become one of the greatest forces in Aurora.
Kelvin looked at his friends.
"Let's go."
The five walked toward the Awakening Hall together.
As Kelvin crossed the doorway, he suddenly felt something strange.
A faint pain appeared in his chest.
He stopped.
"Kelvin?"
"I'm fine."
The pain disappeared.
He continued walking.
Deep inside him, something stirred.
A voice that had been silent for fifteen years whispered for the first time.
Wake...
Kelvin stopped again.
"What was that?"
"What?"
He looked around.
His friends were staring at him.
Kelvin shook his head.
"Nothing."
They continued toward the Awakening Hall.
Above them, hidden beyond the clouds, a black mark briefly appeared in the sky.
Then it vanished.
No one noticed.
Except one ancient creature sleeping thousands of kilometers away.
Its eyes opened.
For the first time in centuries.
And it whispered:
"The Soul has returned."
TO BE CONTINUED...